4300 Farlin Avenue
November 28, 2023....On behalf of our staff, the veterans and the community we serve, we'd like to thank Wes Shirley, Communications Director, our grant sponsor Maurice Hayden, and the employees of Spectrum, and their dedication to the Spectrum Employee Community Grants. On this day, Moving Upward was a grant recipient to help us continue our Community for Veterans housing intiative.
Our founder Byron Hayes, left, speaks on the goals of the Community for Veterans houising initiative.
L to R: Rahman Khan, Group Vice President of Community Impact, Byron Hayes, Founder, Moving Upward Inc, Maurice Hayden, Employee Grant Sponsor, Karrin Smoley, Senior Director, Community Impact
May 17, 2023...Again our agency and our volunteers would like to thank The Kaufman Fund for including us in this year's round of funding. We look forward to continuing our partnership in housing homeless veterans!
May 1, 2023...media & images of the renovation progress of two apartments for two homeless veterans.
This Community for Veterans housing project is about 75% complete. The major systems: Plumbing is 80%, electrical 70%, and HVAC is 80% complete. We are looking forward to our project partner, Brentwood Home Depot, coming in this summer to install/vinyl wrap the new windows as well as hang the drywall!!!
We've targeted Fall of 2023 for total completion and two homeless veterans no longer homeless!!...please donate and help with this goal.
March 6, 2022 - We'd like to welcome Blue Line Media to our list of sponsors. This media company offers great promotional opportunities on Metro transportation to Stadium advertising. Visit Blue Line Media for your advertsing needs.
March 6, 2022 - Thanks to one of our housing sponsor's...the Hanley Home Depot...we were able to board up the damaged windows on the project, adding extra safety while we complete the plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems. Again big thanx to store manager Tom Piland, and Asst. Store Manager John Wichmann, our POC!!!
June 26, 2021 - On behalf of the Moving Upward staff and the homeless Veterans we serve, we're saying thank you to Tarlton Construction Company for contributing to the Community for Veterans project!!
March 25, 2021 - We are ecstatic as progress continues at 4300 Farlin. Roofing: The primary roofing has been completed. Rear addition demolition and garage roofing is all that remains. Shouts go to Debra Gee (project coordinator) for initializing and soon completing the roofing system installation!!
Feb. 25, 2021 - On behalf of the staff at Moving Upward, and all of our great volunteers, we'd like to thank Jenny DiGuardi, Regional Administrative Manager for Costco's Midwest Region for securing a donation for the Community for Veterans housing project. Thanx Jenny & Costco!!!
February 10, 2021 - Progress!!...65% of electrical repair completed. We were able to complete a previously attempted (pre-Moving Upward) meter box and electrical panel installation.
Feb. 1, 2021 - What a fantastic day....we'd like to thank the store managers @ the Brentwood Home Depot in St. Louis for coming to the project site and presenting us with a donation to the Community for Veterans Initiative. Their donation, through the Home Depot Foundation, goes a long way in helping us provide two apartments for two homeless Veterans. We certainly look forward to the Home Depot project crew coming in and helping us with the renovations post Covid-19. Thanx guys!!
Pictured from left to right...Paul Douthit Home Depot Design Consultant....Tom Piland, Store Manager...Founder Byron Hayes, John Wichmann Asst. Store Manager.
L to R: Paul Douthit, Tom Piland, Byron Hayes, and volunteer Lisa Eckert.
L to R: Paul Douthit, Tom Piland, Byron Hayes, & John Wichmann
Jan. 14, 2021 - We are extremely excited and grateful that Veterans United Foundation has decided to become a project partner with our Community for Veterans Initiative. The support will allow our contractors and volunteers to complete the Phase 2 - Installations (Electrical, HVAC, Roofing and Windows).
We cannot thank Sara Allen, Engagement Foundation Coordinator @ VUF, enough for her diligence & professionalism in presenting our initiative to the board and securing our partnership.
Nov. 21, 2020 - Alicia Watkins working hard
Nov. 21. 2020 - Chris Bollinger working hard.
November 21, 2020 -- Another great Saturday for the Troop 4300 volunteers!...we moved another step closer to being prepped for Phase 2. The rain held off long enough for us to just about finish interior demo (demolition is no joke!).
Thanx to our hard working regulars....Chris Bollinger, Jackie Billops, Lou Bahrmasel, Vince Slattery, Alicia Watkins and a grateful welcome to newcomers Ellen Cerutti & Richard Keen. Can't forget Wayne Kaufman from The Kaufman Fund (Helping Veterans & Children)..thanx for stopping by & surveying the renovation to see where the fund can assist in our initiative. Please visit this helpful organization to see how you can make a difference!!!!
Nov. 21, 2020 - Ellen Cerutii & Jackie Billops woking hard
Nov. 21, 2020 - Vince Slattery working hard.
Nov. 21, 2020 - Vince Slattery, Byron Hayes (Founder), Ellen Cerutti, Alicia Watkins, take a lunch break @ 4300 Farlin
Nov. 21, 2020 - Lou Bahmarsel getting it done.
Nov. 16, 2020 - People continue to be amazing!!...Kyle McCollom & Diane Witherspoon met up with our Founder, Byron Hayes to donate USEFUL tools and supplies needed for 4300 Farlin Ave. - the renovation project yielding two apartments for two homeless Veterans.
The "Community" in Community for Veterans is a real thing. We cannot thank our donors enough for helping us make a dream of comfortable, independent living a reality for homeless Veterans
November 7, 2020
Once again the community came out to help us in our effort to complete the Phase 1 clean-out of 4300 Farlin Ave. Dedicated troopers Chris Bollinger & Lisa Eckert AGAIN, for the second Saturday in a row, demonstrated how much this project means to them. We also had newcomers Jackie Billops, Kathy Conway, and Vince Slattery show up and work hard toward the completion.
We had a special visitor come out and thank us for our mission...Vietnam Veteran (Army) Eddie Ellis showed his appreciation for our efforts by encouraging the volunteers and donating to the cause...we thank & salute you sir!!!
We'd also like to thank our Wellness sponsor (Hoopn' for Hearts) Linda James & her daughter Bianca James, two wonderful women representing "Just As I Am" dance ministry, for supplying lunch for our volunteers.
Nov. 7, 2020: L. to R. sponsors Bianca & Linda James, voulunteer Vince Slattery, Vietnam Veteran Eddie Ellis, Tia Leonard (Moving Upward), Byron Hayes, Founder.
Nov. 7th 2020: L. to R. Bianca James (Just As I Am Dance Ministry), Vietnam Army Veteran Eddie Ellis, Linda James (Just As I Am Dance Ministry).
All of our volunteers and staff members have been working extremely hard on this project. But we have to give Chris Bollinger, United States Coast Guard, a big thank you...first one on the site, last to leave the site, a true soldier thru & thru, unselfishly tackling everything on the project...SALUTE!!!!
Nov. 7, 2020: Chris Bollinger, USCG
October 31, 2020
What a fantastic Saturday we had Oct. 31st...it was really gratifying that people from all walks of life came together to help make housing a reality for homeless Veterans.
This was the first day of the Phase 1 clean-out. We were able to complete roughly 60%...we hope to have this Phase completed by our next outing...November 7th...@ 8am.
We cant thank Caroline Hecker enough...KMOV Channel 4 reporter...for coming out for coverage & putting together a terrific story highlighting our cause & the volunteers making it happen. Many thanks to the great people giving back!!!
Oct. 31, 2020 - Hard working volunteers at 4300 Farlin Ave. Back row: Carol Ault, Jay Clark, Founder, Byron Hayes, Orlando Wilson, Andy Boyd, Peter Haw, Alicia Hawkins. 2nd Row: Lou Bahrmasel, Terea Goodwin (Board President), Harriette Scott-Dudley (Co-Founder), Lou Faber (Project Coordinator). Front: Lisa Eckert
4300 Farlin Avenue was donated to Moving Upward in August 2018. Our goal is to renovate the building into a two (2) two-bedroom apartments for homeless/near homeless Veterans. The apartments will be available under the HUD/Veteran Administration's ("VA") housing initiative - Project HERO.
"Project HERO" (Housing, Employment, Recovery, Opportunities), is a partnership of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the St. Patrick Center--who implements the program. It began in July 2008 in the Washington Avenue Apartments,1133 Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis.
'HERO' has stipulations for a potential homeless Veteran which include:
• Being an honorably discharged veteran.
• Undergo weekly drug testing.
• Pay 30 percent of income toward rent and utilities.
• Not possess alcohol on premises.
• Not have violent crime or sex offense convictions.
• Do daily morning check-ins in person or by phone with a staff member of St. Patrick Center.
• Not have overnight guests unless it is the tenant's minor child.
• Leave his Project HERO apartment after a maximum of two years (which can be extended under certain circumstances).
We serve in a referral capacity for the HERO program. As we complete the renovation of our two-family housing unit, the two apartments will be available to homeless Veterans under 'HERO.'
Please help us reach the homeless Veteran population and usher them into permanent housing. Volunteer and make a tax deductible donation today, and help us complete this project!!
Click the link below to see current building information from the St. Louis City Assessor's records:
Call Byron Hayes to sign up to volunteer!!! 314-329-5804
